Miniature camera



p 8, 3- c. A. CLARKE 2,330,406

\ MINIATURE CAMERA Filed Sept. 25, 1940 PEA.

INVENTOR.

Qiimlwa. Q6444,

Patented Sept. 28, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MINIATURE CAMERA Charles A. Clarke, New York, N. Y.

Application September 25, 1940, Serial No. 358,328

1 Claim.

My invention relates to cameras and refers more particularly to miniature cameras.

One object of my invention is to provide a miniature camera that can be carried in the palm of the hand and one that will be cheap to manufacture and operate.

Another object of my invention is to provide a miniature camera provided with a fast lens, so that pictures can be taken under adverse conditions.

A further object of my invention is to provide a miniature camera using a 16 m.m. film that can be loaded by anybody, wherein the negatives are cheap and can be enlarged very much.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a miniature camera with a cheap film and a lens 16 times faster than a meniscus so that pictures, small and accurate, can be made in a poor light.

I attain these results preferably by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein similar numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan of the camera.

Figure 2 is a partial section taken on lines 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the camera.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the camera with the door open.

The camera I has a case 6 hinged at 8 to a cover I, and on this cover is a latch 9 engageable with a lug 9a on the case.

The case 6 is partitioned at la and lb, which partitions extend to the dividing line lc between the case 6 and cover 1 where the cover l meets the case 6 when the camera is closed.

The partitions la and lb provide three cornpartments in the case Id, le and If, the compartment ld adapted to hold a spool 29 and the compartment If adapted to hold a spool 23, both of which spools have a slot ll.

The slot 21' is engageable with a projection 30 that is a part or the knob 3|, the iunctlon 01' which is to provide a means Ior turning the spool in one direction only.

The compartment I ,f is adapted to hold a full spool 23 that is freely revolvable in suitable slots in the case I and the spool 29 is connected to the end of the film.

The compartment lc between id and If is provided with an opening to hold the lens 1 by means of the nut is with a. shutter 4, sun shield 3 which together comprise the lens umt that is detachably held to the case I.

The cover is divided into five compartments by the partitions la, lb, lo and ld, providing compartments 1e, If, lg, lb, and ii, the compartments 1e and 11' providing room for the spools 23 and 29 when the cover is closed and the partitions la and lb register in spaced relation with the partitions la. and lb in the case.

The tongue lie in the cover engages with the indentation 'H in the case and provides the interlocking means.

The partitions lo and Id contain a colored glass window Ill that is adjacent to the dividing line between the case and the cover through which the number of the film I I may be observed.

On the top of the case I, is attached a reflection finder i2, comprised of a lens l3, a right angled mirror It, and a suitable glass l5 upon which the view will be seen.

The lens 2 is operated by the knurled part l6, which allows the lens to be set to lB-l i-- B5.64.5-- and 3.5 upon the line l1 and the shutter 4, operated by the lever l8, which can be positioned to work at 25 -5c ma and bulb or time, as shown by the regulator l9, and scale 20, furthermore there are means to set the shutter to operate under various conditions such as for portraits, average views, distant views, etc., as shown by the scale 2| and indicator 22.

The film is on the spool 23 with the slot 24, and is provided with projections 25 and 26, one of which has a slot 21, which projections fit into the slots in the body I.

The end of the film is attached to the slot 28, of the spool 29, and the slot 21 of this spool engages the projection 30 of the handle 3 I which has a pawl and ratchet, not shown, so that it can turn only in one direction.

Having thus illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction or arrangement of parts shown, since it is evident that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the claim.

I claim:

In a miniature camera, a rectangular case, a hinger cover on said case, a latch on said cover engaging a lug on said case, the ends of said case and cover rounded into each other, means interlocking the cover with the case, said case partitioned into three compartments comprising two relatively small film compartments and a lens compartment, the partitions of said lens compartment fiush with the dividing line between said case and cover, partitions in the said cover compartment registering in spaced relation to the partitions in the case, a knob with a split shaft projecting into one of the film compartments, said knob provided with means for rotation in one direction only, a fast lens and a shutter mounted on the centerline of said lens compartment and a reflector finder mounted on the top of said case directly over the centerline of said lens.

CHARLESA. CLARKE. 

